“Skittles are candy. Refugees are people. We don't feel it's an appropriate analogy,” the statement read. “We will respectfully refrain from further commentary as anything we say could be misinterpreted as marketing.”

The Republican nominee has advocated sharply restraining immigration and has accused opponent Clinton of advocating acceptance of tens of thousands of refugees.

The tweet came as world leaders meeting at the United Nations on Monday approved a declaration aimed at providing a more coordinated and humane response to the global refugee crisis, among which Syrians are a major grouping.